Improvement in needle-threaders



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W" @che IMPROVEMENT IN NEEDLE-THREADERS.

The 'Schedule referred t in these Letters Patent and mai'aing part of the same.

Be it known that I, ALnXANpER HUNTER, of Buffalo, county of Erie, in the State of New York, have invented a new and improved Apparatus for 'lhreading Hand-Sewing'Needles; and I do hereby' declare that the following vis a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this speciication, in which like parts are indicated by likeV letters in the several figures. d The nature of. my invention consists in constructing my apparatus of one piece of sheet-metal, which can readily be struck out by suitable dies, and its shape perfected by subsequent manipulation with a simple tool, such as a pair of ftweezers when it can be attached to a thimble for permanent use.

In the drawings- Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my apparatus, attached to a thimble;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the same, detached; and a Figure 3 is a plan ofl the metal piece, as struck out by the dies, and before being bent into shape for use.

E represents a small groove, or depression in one end of the plate, or apparatus made by the dies, and on each side of it, Where the plate is wide, these edges are turned up, and between them, and overE, the other end or spring, B, rests.

This portion of the plate, or apparatus, I call 0, or the needle-holder. Y

B serves to hold the needle in position in the groove E, which receives and guides the needle.

A is the funnel-shaped depression, terminating in a hole, being the guide for the thread on its way to pass through the eye Vof the needle underneath.

The depression A may be enlarged by pressure, if desired, after the strip is cut out, and this is put into shape as follows:

First, the part between Aand the end B is bent down, alongside of and 'underneath the bottomof A, extending a short .distance beyond, as seen in iig. 2, when it returns upon itself, rising as highA as the top of. A,or as far as necessary, and then curving down,

`desirable spring-shape. and C, is then bent down, around, and underneath the as seen in the figure aforesaid, whereby it acquires a The other end, between A part which has just been formed, bringing the groove E inthe end of O, underneath the spring B.

The lips on the end of G, can now be turned up so as to embrace the lower end of B, forming a channelguide for it, or they can be turned down, before this end is brought downrand around, as described. There are now three thicknesses of metal underneath the conical guide A. The holes through these, for the passage oi the thread, may be drilled at one operation, the drill passing through the small hole in the bottom of A.

These holes may be punched in at the striking out .ofthe plate, but this would require very nicemanipulation to bring them all in line, Vduring the bendingprocess by hand.

The lower hole, l call D, or 'the determinating hole, inasmuch as -the-needle stops when its eye is pushed in and over said hole, and in a .line with the several ones above it. A thread, introduced in A, will now passl through the several holes., and the eye of the needle, and out at D, the needle being secured by the spring B pressing it down lightly upon O. The needle thus threaded can now be withdrawn.

I am aware of the patent of O; Kane, April 19, 1864, as also of that of '0. 00X, J une 14, 1864, neither of which I claim, the construction of my apparatus dii'ering from them; but, d

Having thus described my invention,

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

' A needle-threading apparatus, for attachment to thimbles, made of sheet-metal, `constructed and operv ated in the manner as shown and described.

ALEX. HUNTER.

Witnesses:

H. WM.V DoPP, FRANK M. J onns. 

